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On April 16, the League of Women Voters-Cuyahoga Area hosted a lively discussion on regionalization among Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers, Westshore Council of Governments fiscal officer Steve Presley, and 65 citizens, local officials, and safety forces members. This was the second of three LWV voter education forums on regionalization. While the first event explored collaboration with the county, this forum took a close look at collaboration among cities, specifically members of the Westshore Council of Governments (WCOG).

WCOG was formed in 1971 by six communities -- Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River, and Westlake -- "to foster cooperation between municipalities in all areas of municipal service." Funding for 2013 is $330,000, with 10% shared equally and 90% based on population and valuation.

In recent years, the medical community has adopted the concept of “never events”—inexcusable medical mishaps and errors (such as performing surgery on the wrong side of the body or giving a fatally wrong dose of medication to a patient) which have actually happened more often than you might like to imagine, but whose risk for occurrence can be reduced to as close to zero as possible through the diligent, routine, systematic application of risk reduction strategies in medical settings. It is an approach borrowed from the airline industry which has used similar strategies to dramatically reduce the number of airplane crashes—that industry’s version of a “never event.”

Here's the scenario: You're suddenly awakened in the middle of a Friday night after a particularly rough week. You're not sure why and you're about ready to roll over and resume the Zs when you hear a noise in the downstairs living room. You're frozen. Do you go downstairs to investigate? Do you try to get up and get your phone? What about the kids? Maybe their room is at the top of the stairs. Either way, it doesn't matter. Police are at least ten to fifteen minutes away, if you're lucky.

Lakewood Girl Scout Troop 109 Brownie members have been busy. Twelve Emerson 3rd graders have been working on a service project to earn badges in the Journey: "It's Your Story, Tell It." The girls divided into three groups and chose a project to fullfill the badge requirements. The girls brainstormed ideas for service projects and settled on animal shelters, children's literacy and providing winterwear for students in need.

Ava Molinski, Dashuanna Carter and Veruca Jourilles collected towels, blankets, pet food and toys. Emma Murray, Lucy McIntyre, Molly Burke and Molly Pilgrim gathered gently used books for ESL students in the Lakewood community. Amy Pilgrim, Eva Strazsek, Abby Hirsch and Amelia Moore collected hats, scarves, coats and mittens. The girls created ornaments, decorated boxes and notecards to spread the word of their projects. Then the girls sorted and bundled the items for the the Lakewood Animal shelter, Asia Inc. and the Emerson parent resource co-ordinator who distributed the items.

It was unusually “warm" – 40 degrees – at the “North Pole” in Peninsula, when an enthusiastic group of Sunrise Rotary and Lakewood High School Interact Club members were on the platform to meet the Polar Express trains of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Dressed as snow men, ginger bread cookies, and, of course elves, they enjoyed seeing the faces of hundreds of children looking out from the train cars as they arrived at the “North Pole.” 

Marty Harris and Barb Sabal arranged for rides for the three current Rotary International exchange students from France, Equator, and Russia, and other Interact Club members and were helped by Bill Gaydos and Jim Harris who also drove.  Tood Kiick looked very tasty as a Ginger Breadman, and Bill and Jayne Gaydos, Jim and Marty Harris, Karen Clark, Doug Cooper, and Larry and Rosemary Faulhaber looked very authentic in their Elf costumes.

Georgetown Restaurant in Lakewood has introduced Chef Gregg Korney as its new new Executive Chef. Gregg has served as Executive Chef at several fine restaurants locally, including Giovanni's, Sushi Rock and the Vue in Hudson, as well as  Weymouth and Signature of Solon Country Clubs. He previously owned Velocity American Bistro in Cleveland and most recently was Chef/Owner of Quince Restaurant in Olmsted Falls. 

Since assuming the helm of the Georgetown kitchen in October, Gregg has unveiled a  new fall menu and introduced a special Bar Menu to complement Georgetown's acclaimed happy hour. In early December, Georgetown opened a new party room to accommodate larger groups, special events and holiday parties.

The new room will also serve a new nightclub next door,  expected to open in early spring, that will offer a variety of music, including jazz, blues, Motown and more.

One of the least acknowledged and least addressed concerns in our society is grief, the normal and natural reaction to loss. Many events cause human beings to experience grief and the range of emotions that accompany it: death of a loved one, divorce, loss of career, loss of hopes and dreams, health issues, and significant changes head the list. Losses can limit us and get in the way of investing emotionally in relationships and life. 

On November 11th, 2012, my crew of volunteers and I finished the new ramada shelter at Lakewood Dog Park. The weather was beautiful and it was a perfect day to finish the construction.

Overlook Park, a newly formed neighborhood association had its first Annual Members Meeting September 30th at The Winking Lizard. This association was formed in 2011 and encompasses Edgewater and Lake from Belle to Nicholson including all the smaller streets north of Lake including Nicholson, Wilbert, Homewood, Roy, Cliff, Edgewater and Kirtland Lanes, Estille, Roy and Parkside. It has 4 goals: more social interaction and opportunities among neighbors; increased communication among neighbors; an identity in the community; and a blockwatch. 

On Sunday November 4, my family and I walked to Lakewood High School to see Vice President Biden.  We waited in a very long line for 45 minutes before we were allowed inside.  While I waited, I people-watched and tried to stay warm.  Campaign volunteers walked around telling us we would be subject to “airport style security.”   They also offered pens to people so ticket stubs could be filled out before entering the building.

When we finally got inside, I went through the metal detector and emptied my pockets onto a table for inspection.  Thankfully I did not have to take my shoes off!

I entered the gym and my family decided to sit on the bleachers instead of standing in the mosh pit.  Unfortunately, we were seated under the Lakewood Project and could not see them as they performed.

We waited again as the gym filled up.  Campaign workers asked people to move closer together so it seemed like there were more people in attendance.  They also pulled a variety of people to sit on bleachers behind the podium.  Those spectators were noticeably diverse, not only in skin color and age but also in their sports or university garb. 

Questions:

1.  Please tell us your name, age, where you live, and your current job.



Nickie J. Antonio

1305 Belle Ave. Lakewood Ohio

State Representative Ohio House District 13

2.  Why do you want to serve in the Ohio General Assembly? (200 words max)


Why are you seeking this office?

I have been a hard working State Representative serving House District 13 with commitment and integrity. I will continue to work to create and retain jobs, strive for excellence in education for all students, and work to create policies that support healthy communities.

I’m a professional musical instrument repair technician! And one of the few women in the world that does this kind of work.

Appointed to House Finance & Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Health & Human Services

State Representative Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) was appointed to the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. These two additions will complement one another and reinforce areas of importance to Rep. Antonio as she currently is on the House Health and Aging Committee. 

“The work of the House Finance & Appropriations committee is of vital importance to the people of House District 13 and I am honored to be chosen to serve,” said Rep. Antonio.

The Finance and Appropriations Committee is responsible for determining the state of Ohio’s biennial operating budget along with other state finances including the capital budget. The Subcommittee on Health and Human Services is an arm of the Finance and Appropriations Committee that addresses specific legislation that affects public health.

We spend our lives making memories to last a lifetime. Family vacations, professional accomplishments, birthdays, weddings, and many other special events give us the opportunity to reminisce about the past. Alzheimer’s robs its victims of these special memories and the ability to function independently on a daily basis. Even if you haven’t experienced this disease first hand, chances are someone you know has. 

By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, you can help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a united movement to reclaim the future for millions. This fall, walks will be held across the country to raise awareness for the 5.4 million people with Alzheimer’s nationwide. The Walks to End Alzheimer’s are the Association’s signature community involvement events that raise funds to fight Alzheimer’s and provide FREE programs to assist the 56,000 Northeast Ohioans with the disease.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is seeking reliable and civic-minded people to serve as poll workers during the November 6th General Presidential Election.

Back To School! I hear whistles of the football practice across the street. Students are entrenched in marching band maneuvers and getting ready for the football season. Other parents will have budding young musicians starting a band or orchestra program. For me it’s a busy time as I get ready to rent out many instruments to new players. But one of my favorite things during the school year that I really enjoy sharing with high school students is teaching them how to repair musical instruments. The Instrument Repair Apprenticeship Program is something I created a few years ago to provide students opportunities to learn and have hands-on experience as instrument repair technicians. They take apart and reassemble musical instruments.  Five young men and women have participated over the years and some have been so proficient at re-padding a clarinet and ultrasonically cleaning brass instruments that they earned a little extra cash preparing the rental stock during the summer.

You can buy shampoo many places. If you are buying a professional brand outside of a salon it could be a counterfeit product. The places that make the fake shampoo often are good at making the packaging look like the real thing, but often real junk is inside the bottles. Another reason to buy shampoo in a salon is that professional shampoos are designed to get very specified results.

Was music a part of your life growing up? Was music something shared among family members? Did you sing at the dinner table, in the car, at a party? Or did your parents and relatives hear you playing and/or singing at the numerous band and choir concerts, musicals, parades, festivals, Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl or any other Bowl? Did you create a band with family members? Or did you have the garage band that was destined to be the most famous rock band ever, with you as the lead singer/guitarist? Did you receive an instrument passed down from generation to generation that you played in order to continue the legacy? Who was it that inspired you to create music?

It has been almost two full years since our County adopted a new way of leadership, which included electing one County Executive and 11 County Council members, each representing a different district. Falling into the 2nd district, Lakewood is represented by County Councilman Dale Miller. Mr. Miller is a leader we have all come to recognize over the years, notably through his work as a State Representative and more recently as a State Senator and he has always remained committed to strengthening families, children, and communities at large. 

Why take private lessons? Look at it as an investment into your child’s academic and musical future! I would say the majority of instrumental students in a band or orchestra are the top seated players because they take private lessons. They are rewarded for their efforts and gain quite a bit of self-confidence and tend to have higher scores academically.

I can’t think of too many pianists that have achieved an adequate playing level without a teacher. So why don’t parents have that same approach when their child starts on a band or orchestra instrument? Many times I hear parents say, “Oh, they have lessons with the band director.“ These are small group lessons where learning is at a slower pace than private lessons. It’s a challenging setting for the child to focus on and master techniques. They get the basics and after that, everything else is taught during the large group band/orchestra class. Now the efficiency and speed of acquiring a skill is slowed down again. There are exceptions but I’m referring to the majority of players.

“…all dogs not claimed or adopted are transferred to the Cuyahoga County Kennel. All cats not claimed or adopted are euthanized.” – Website of the City Of Lakewood – Animal Shelter – FAQs

Blink your eyes and you’ll most likely miss it. A thick stand of typical Rocky River Reservation trees almost swallows the narrow driveway. The blind curves at this section of the park road almost ensure your eyes will be strictly on the road. And, if you indeed miss the driveway, you’ll most likely also not see the unusually small sign next to it which says “Lakewood Animal Shelter.”

Could it be possible that some significant portion of Lakewood residents is either unaware of the shelter’s location, or even altogether unaware that there is a Lakewood Animal Shelter? Given this somewhat obscure location and the shelter’s relatively low publicity profile, it seems very likely that the responses to both options will be in the positive.

Service Will Connect Vendors to Three Area Farmers' Markets

Carabel Beauty Salon & Store will be marching with Lakewood's 4th of July parade. We will be passing out with our business cards, temporary tattoos. Some directions are on the back but I want to give more information. The red white and blue will keep with the holiday. That is the beauty of the temporary, art that can be changed. To apply for the most lasting results, have the skin scrubbed well. Apply the tattoo and wet with water to release the pictureto the skin. Apply baby powder to the tattoo and that will give a more authentic look while having it last longer. Body oils or products with oil will remove the tattoo.

What’s the first thing that people notice on a home? The outside of course! Landscaping and exterior maintenance can help increase the real estate value of your home and help with the curb appeal, wow factor.

Ohio-based MusicMuse has launched their first Kickstarter project to help raise funds for production costs of filming instruction, as well as raising awareness of their product through marketing. Through the interactive creative fund-raising website, Kickstarter.com, MusicMuse hopes to raise $20,000 by May 5th to go directly towards creating content for their website, yourmusicmuse.com, and marketing of the site.

Lakewood resident, Charles Debelak, led Birchwood School’s math team to a victory for a second consecutive year at the prestigious MathCounts State Competition in Columbus. His students Clive Chan and Kavya Ravichandran placed first and fourth individually and will be among the four students to represent our state at the national competition. As the coach of Ohio’s top finisher, Debelak, has the honor and the responsibility of coaching the four-student team.

The morning of Wednesday, April 11, WESTCOM dispatch received a call for an emotionally distressed missing person in a neighborhood adjacent to many acres of wooded, rough terrain and fields. Due to the near freezing temperatures and periods of rain overnight and into that morning, time was of the essence to locate this individual quickly to avoid hypothermia and other exposure-related injuries.

On March 2nd, teens from six Westshore High Schools attended the Second Annual Westshore Young Leaders Network (WYLN) Lock In at the Westlake Recreation Center. The Westshore Young Leaders is a Leadership Program that was developed by the Westshore Enforcement Bureau (WEB) in August 2010 to promote alcohol and other drug free choices for Middle and High School teens.

H2O, “Help to Others” is excited to announce that planning is underway for the 18th year of Summer Service Camp. Middle school-aged kids who are Lakewood residents can apply to attend camp during one of its four two-week sessions. Campers are placed into small groups with a trained counselor. Each camper experiences a variety of service opportunities by going to a different site each day. Last year’s sites and agencies included Asian Services in Action, Migration and Refugee Services, Camp Can Do, Cleveland Foodbank, Crestmont North Nursing Facility, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Childcare facilities, H2O Clothing Drive, H2O LEAF garden, Lakewood Community Services Center, Lakewood Division of Aging, Laura’s Home, Ronald McDonald House, and Lakewood Arts Festival Craft Day. The camp experience is enhanced by themes, speakers, games, and an over-all sense of belonging.

Graham Veysey (pronounced “VeeZee”), 29, is running for Congress, in the newly–drawn and likely to be hotly contested 9th District. In an unusual race that pits two veteran politicians against one another, Graham has positioned himself as a fresh alternative. Both pro-choice and fiscally moderate, drawn equally to direct political action and new social media, Graham represents a good cross-section of Cleveland’s new “brain gain” cohort – young, idealistic, yet practical people who are anxious to make a difference. I interviewed Graham recently during a sunny afternoon at The Root Café – the type of local small business in Lakewood’s walkable downtown that Graham cites as an example of the emerging new economy.

For the past eight years The Lakewood Family Room has served many purposes in my life and in the health of my family… it has provided healing, given me hope and, ultimately, brought me to a place of happiness in motherhood. The Celebration of the Family Room on Saturday, January 28 was a beautiful tribute to an institution that has supported families in Lakewood for years.

I first discovered the Family Room while suffering from severe postpartum depression after the birth of my son. In those dark days, the simple act of surrounding myself with “normal” mothers provided safety. Although I wasn’t healthy enough to really make friends or share in the social aspect of the program, I recognized how critical it was for me to get out of the house and provide my son with an opportunity to interact with other children. As I took a more active role in my recovery, I used every resource available to become a better mother… including an eight-week parenting class that literally changed my life.

When I received word that Blog for Family Dinner accepted a post from my blog (http://writeonjana.com), I was ecstatic... and a little shamed. You see, I had fallen into the habit of picking at food while cooking and then serving each child a different mixture of the final meal (to accommodate food allergies and preferences)... never even sitting down to eat from a plate myself. Nice, huh?!

Thankfully, the "call" to represent The Blog for Family Dinner Project motivated me to wake up and smell the spaghetti... I snagged a copy of The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a Time at Lakewood Public Library and got to work implementing some of the strategies for bringing people to the table.

Ever wonder what it would be like to appear in a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rob Lowe or Joe Pesci?  One Lakewood woman has had the pleasure of those experiences. Her name is Jean Zarzour, actor of film, stage, television and radio.

Thank you for your wonderful column Erika!

I want to relate my biking story. In December of 2009 two events changed the course of my life. The first was a visit to my doctor. I had just turned 40, was out of shape, overweight and feeling lousy. He told me to change my diet and get some exercise (in particular he said 30 minutes of elevated heart rate). I said that's great but I don't have the time to exercise due to a busy work and home life. A few days later my old pickup truck broke down and it wasn't worth the repairs it needed. I gave it to Click n' Clack, the Tappet brothers.

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections must employ nearly 6,000 Poll Workers to serve at the polls on Election Day and is currently hiring for the March 6th, 2012 Primary Election.

Creative Citizen Urban Agriculture Project is Modest in Scale and Limited in Duration.

A growing circle of Lakewood residents want healthy, local food, and they’re taking action to get it right here in Lakewood through steps such as community gardens, CSAs (community-supported agriculture), farmer’s markets, rain barrels, composting and more. Their creativity and innovation is fast making Lakewood a statewide leader in urban agriculture.

Lakewood should be a city that welcomes creativity, innovation, and citizen involvement. We are sitting within a community that has a vast amount of untapped potential in urban sustainability. Many residents agree we should work to put Lakewood on the map as THE leader that other cities look towards when they want to know “how it’s done.”

Modern meets vintage at Tease Hair + Body Parlor in the heart of downtown Lakewood. The parlor encompasses professional specialists in all areas of hair and skin care with years of expertise. The barber is nationally renowned and an educator for the eco-friendly hair care line Eufora. The Esthetics Department proudly carries the Image Skin Care line which includes many products to fit the individual‘s needs. Owner’s Nora Swift and husband Mwale Kakusa chose this location because of Nora's close ties to Lakewood. She grew up here, is raising a family in this city and felt it was only appropriate to have her business flouish in a city that prides itself on family, appreciation for local businesses and diverse culture- values that serve as the basic blueprint behind Tease Hair + Body Parlor‘s mission.

I am running for the Lakewood Board of Education because I believe my resourcefulness, passion, and range of experience combine for a fresh approach that would serve the homeowners, students and community well. The Lakewood City Schools fully prepared me for my career and for life in general. I can think of no better way to return my gratitude than to help ensure that the traditional exemplary education continues for all of children.

After graduating from Lakewood High School in 1995, I earned a BA from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 1999, where I majored in economics, public policy history, and political science. I subsequently earned an MA from Cleveland State University in 2003, in urban studies with a concentration in economic development. I attribute my collegiate success to the superior preparation in writing and analytical skills gained from our schools.

Money has been a big topic of interest in our home the last couple months. It's just starting to "sink in" financially that my paycheck is no longer part of the equation and the sad state of the U.S. economy is not helping matters.

This summer my family finally gave up on McDonald’s. It shouldn’t have taken this long—we saw Supersize Me when it first came out (seven years ago). We read Fast Food Nation and discussed its horrors with our friends. We’ve known all along that when it came to nutrition, McDonald’s was at the bottom of the barrel. But we thought an occasional foray to the Golden Arches was forgivable. Everything in moderation, right? And we never went without a good excuse. “I was dying for ice cream, but I only had a dollar in my purse.” Or, “A promise of fries on the way home was the only way I could get the kids to go to the store without a tantrum.” It was just a drive thru. A blip in our day. We threw the bag away and forgot we’d ever been.

The energy in Downtown Lakewood continues to build. Partnerships, collaboration, and volunteer efforts can be credited with the most recent success story: a two-week beautification of City Center Park opposite Rozi’s Wine House on Detroit Avenue. LakewoodAlive volunteers Jeanne Mackay and Sean McGuan spent many hours over a two-week period beautifying the park following a plan that resulted from a collaboration with the City of Lakewood and the Coral Company, owners of Lakewood City Center.

Does anyone remember the “real” Lakewood Centennial celebration that took place in 1989? Yes, Lakewood achieved a population of 12,000 in 1911 and became a CITY, but the HAMLET of Lakewood was established in 1889. A quick review of Lakewood’s history: In 1805 the Lakewood area was designated as Township 7, Range 14 of the Western Reserve. James Nicholson was the first permanent settler in 1818, and in 1819 the Lakewood and Rocky River area was named Rockport Township.

The abundance of August is here! Remember that rough, wet spring we had? Neither do we, now that the market is bursting with fresh produce like sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, zesty peppers, crisp greens, wholesome squash, juicy melons and so much more! One fruit that is really thriving this time of year: PEACHES! Peaches are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. Peaches can be clingstone (the flesh sticks to the stone) or freestone (the stone is easily separated from the flesh). Freestone peaches are great for canning and cooking because they are easily sliced from the stone. Buster Woolf from Woolf Farms and Sally Smith from Smith’s Fruit Farm will be at the market and are on hand to help you pick out the best variety for preparing your peaches. Try this recipe for an easy peach cobbler:

Many of us have seen the ‘patters’, the ‘thumpers’ and the melon ‘knockers’ standing in the produce section with puzzled and worried faces. While wondering if they will hear the magical sound of ripeness, as they listen for the echo from the watermelon’s inner deliciousness. What if our hearing is bad? How do you know you’ve got a good one?

Residents in Elyria, North Ridgeville, Olmsted Falls, Berea, Middleburg Heights, Parma, Parma Heights, Seven Hills, North Royalton Broadview Heights, Brecksville, Independence, Valley View, Twinsburg, Lorain and other nearby communities that are being affected by the storms we’ve been having since April 2011 should beware of storm chasers out to take advantage of the bad weather.

What a wonderful week this has been for Lakewood.

The older I get, the more I realize in life what a continuum that the concept of "time" really is. With the prestigious Ohio Chautauqua event that transpired in Lakewood this past week, we were transported vicariously into another moment in historical time, and yet, was it REALLY another moment in time, or is time, indeed, timeless?

If you were there on Saturday or Sunday evening, you saw me, for example, playing my late uncle's ancient antique banjo, made in England, many, MANY years ago. I learned somewhere that the factory that built that banjo was destroyed by bombs during WWII, and yet in many ways, the company that created it, (as well as my uncle's passion for playing it) lives on in me, with what I did with that instrument in leading songs for the hundreds of people who were in attendance on those evenings.

As we all know, Girl Scout cookie time has come and gone. This year calls for some special recognition. For the last two years, Lakewood Brownie Troop 415 has sent cookies to a U.S. unit fighting in Afghanistan. These third grade girls collected donations and raised money to buy cookies to send to troops defending our country. This year the cookies were sent to the United States Marine Corps and the 2nd Recon Battalion Alpha Company 1st Platoon stationed with Corporal Dana Peters. Every box contained a handmade card with good wishes to the Marine and their unit. The girls wanted to send wishes from home to thank the soldiers and let them know we are thinking of them. Thank you to all who donated. I am sure the kind thoughts and delicious cookies were enjoyed and appreciated overseas!

Specializing in hair, skin waxing and natural nails since 2005. Dramatics Hair Salon is the oldest and most trusted privately owned salon in Downtown Lakewood. Our location has been a salon for over 40 years. Only changing owners three times. In our busy life styles, it's nice to go somewhere that remind us that taking time for ourselves is a necessity not a privilege. Looking good makes you feel good and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

I've been hearing rumors that the congressional district of our congressman, Dennis Kucinich, might be phased-out, and that he could be leaving Ohio to represent a newly-created district which may include the city of Lakewood, Washington.

Throughout spring and summer, the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District hosts rain barrel workshops around the county. During the one and one half hour session, the Cuyahoga SWCD representative explains the benefits of rain barrel use for individuals and the community, shows participants how to construct a rain barrel, and finally, offers guidance and answers questions as workshop participants work on making their rain barrels. Cuyahoga SWCD provides the materials (55-gallon food-grade plastic barrel, brass spigot, hose barb, downspout diverter and hose, PTFE tape) and the tools (drill, 15/16” drill bit, thread tap). Bringing your own battery-powered drill can speed up the construction process. Workshoppers are typically fully educated and waddling out the door with their arms wrapped around their new rain barrel before the 90 minutes are up. 

Rabbits are very different from dogs and cats and do not make good pets for children. Many rabbits, chicks and ducklings bought as ‘impulse gifts’ end up unwanted or mistreated. Some are “set free” after the novelty wears off and end up dying of starvation or are killed by predators. These domesticated animals are not equipped to live in the wild. Thousands end up in shelters every year where most are euthanized. In Alabama, selling or giving away baby rabbits is illegal. The bunny law (Code of Alabama, Title 3, Section 3-1-15) also prohibits the sale of chicks and ducklings.

We Are Ohio.

Thinking about your dream home? You may want to check out this event.

On Saturday April 16, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., LakewoodAlive joins with the real estate community to showcase homes for sale in Lakewood. Only seven miles west of downtown Cleveland, Lakewood is an affordable suburb with great schools. In 2010, Lakewood was named by Business Week magazine as “Ohio’s Best Place to Raise Your Kids.” This recognition was based largely on Lakewood’s affordability and numerous community assets, including the “Excellent” rated school district, the expansive city park system and easy access to regional attractions. Additionally, in 2008, This Old House magazine named Lakewood as one of the “Best Places in the Midwest to Buy an Old House.” Over 50,000 people have found their ‘dream’ on one of Lakewood’s tree-lined streets.

His favorite was the shitake mushroom puffs on a stick and mine was the Mediterranean stick- or maybe it was the fruit, or maybe the caramel-coated apples and bacon on a stick.

Cox Communications has announced that calls placed to Japan with Cox Digital Telephone will be free of charge through March 31, 2011. This program includes Cox Digital Telephone calls to both landlines and cellular telephones dialed to country code 81. Free Cox Digital Telephone calls to Japan will be retroactive to March 11, 2011.

Fireflies out tonight

You will see the Erie light

Floating out to sea

On my back, waves crash

The orange moon behind me

Abyss before me

Calm before the storm

You will see the Erie light

Chasing me tonight

Whispering winds whip the lake,

as the graceful gulls swoop

down to fetch their fish .

The cold clouds of winter float by,

dancing in colors of misty grays and white

as the trees sleep along the shoreline.

The Sacred Sky of the Heavens

opens in Radiant Light

upon ALL Life….

On Saturday, March, 26th at 8:30 pm, the City of Lakewood will be participate in “Earth Hour.” This is one hour of the year devoted to turning off as many lights, appliances and anything else electrical as possible. Keep Lakewood Beautiful, in conjunction with the City and other groups, is promoting the event "virtually" this year. Look for this article on the LEAF and EcoLakewood Facebook pages and "like" it. Your "like" is your pledge to turn off the lights on Saturday night.

Our goal is getting 200 households to participate, but it is really about much more than that. Given the drive of Lakewood residents, it is anticipated that this goal will be rather easy to accomplish. The challenge will be looking “beyond the hour” to find ways to conserve energy going forward. The results of one hour’s energy savings are minuscule compared to what can happen if we all make a concerted effort to be more energy-conscious.

Saturday, February 26, will be a Yogathon to help raise money to send local girl, Alexia Dudeck, to Australia as a student Ambassador as part of the People to People program created by Dwight D. Eisenhower back in 1957.

Lakewood Senor Health Campus’ Assisted Living Building, 1382 Bunts Rd, 4th floor, will be hosting the event, giving room for yoga instrutctors Aryn Youngless (Acenda Yoga/ Rock 'n Roll Yoga), Sarah Perkins (Fire Lotus Yoga), Tina Gonzales (Yoga Bhaga) and Marcia Hudgel (Yoga 101, Open Yoga) to spend 2 hours teaching you invigorating and blissful yoga! Registration begins at 12 pm and the event runs untill 5 pm. The events will include ½ hour of Hatha Yoga followed by, Vinyasa, Power, Slow/Flow Relaxation and finished up with 15 minutes of mindful meditation.

During the yoga event there will be a silent auction and raffle allowing you a chance to win something from Lakewood’s own Local Girl Gallery (16106 Detroit Ave), Dewey’s Pizza (18516 Detroit Ave), Breadsmith (18101 Detroit Ave) and local artist Sophie Nemethy (www.sophienemethy.com) to name just a few.

On January 27th 2011, the Lakewood community gathered for the annual Diversity Potluck at the Lakewood Park Women’s Club Pavilion. The Potluck is sponsored and organized by the City of Lakewood Community Relations Advisory Commission, a 13 member advisory board appointed by the Mayor and City Council to serve as a liaison in terms of community relation issues in Lakewood. The Potluck serves as a collaborative avenue for attendees to express their creative ways of sharing his or her favorite ethnic dish or dessert while being provided an opportunity to build fellowship with neighbors and other members of the community. A large array of dishes from many different cultures made for a delicious dinner, and made it easy to settle into interesting conversations with new neighbors and friends.